Maine Handicapped Skiing This Year’s B2B Beneficiary

TD Banknorth announced that it has chosen Maine Handicapped Skiing as the beneficiary of this yearÛªs TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race.

Maine Handicapped Skiing (MHS) is a non-profit organization that promotes year-round education and training for Maine children with physical disabilities by developing skills and providing enjoyment through active recreation.

MHS, based in Newry, Maine, provides more than 3,700 lessons in winter and summer, free of charge and with the help of more than 390 volunteers ÛÒ making it the stateÛªs largest year-round adaptive recreation program for children and adults with physical disabilities. Lessons include alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, cycling, golf and paddling at venues across the state, including Portland, New Gloucester, Poland, Carrabassett Valley,
Auburn and Bethel. For more information, visit www.skimhs.org.

ÛÏMaine Handicapped Skiing is a well-respected organization with a mission that is a great fit for the race,Û said Larry Wold, president of TD Banknorth in Maine. ÛÏThrough MHS, Maine children with disabilities are able to participate in and enjoy recreational activities, which are so important. We are pleased to be able to focus on Maine Handicapped Skiing through the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon this year.Û

TD Banknorth, through the TD Charitable Foundation, will provide a cash donation of $30,000 to Maine Handicapped Skiing. The organization also will benefit from fundraising activities and publicity through its association with one of MaineÛªs premiere sporting events.

The TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race is set for Saturday, August 1 along the picturesque shores of MaineÛªs rocky coastline in Cape Elizabeth.

This year will be the 12th running of the race, which has established itself as one of the most popular events on the U.S. road race circuit, drawing a field of 6,000 runners from throughout the region and the world to the small coastal community in Maine. Thousands of spectators cheer the runners, and more than 800 volunteers help ensure a smooth operation.

ÛÏMaine Handicapped Skiing is both honored and excited to have been chosen as the beneficiary of the 2009 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon,Û said Betsy Doyon, Executive Director of Maine Handicapped Skiing. ÛÏMHS has a long history of getting children with physical disabilities outdoors and active through a variety of sports summer and winter. We thank TD Banknorth for its support and for believing in what MHS does for its participants.Û

MHS offers a range of winter and summer activities to disabled children and adults across Maine, including:

Each year almost 400 dedicated volunteers share their interest in sports through volunteering for MHS. Maine Handicapped Skiing also hosts a junior volunteer program for those who are 16 and 17 years of age. This multi-week program introduces teens to the many types of disabilities served and the adaptive equipment used by skiers and riders.

For more information on Maine Handicapped Skiing or becoming a volunteer, call
800-639-7770 or visit online at www.skimhs.org.

The TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon begins near the Crescent Beach entrance on Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth and ends at the historic Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park. More than $60,000 in prize money is awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women. This year, the Kids Fun Run, with more than 500 kids participating, will be held the day before race, on Friday, July 31, at Fort Williams Park.

TD Banknorth is the title sponsor of the race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Olympic gold medalist from Cape Elizabeth who also serves as a spokesperson for TD Banknorth during the year to promote the race and the bankÛªs giving programs, which benefit Maine communities with sponsorship programs and charitable donations. For more information on TD Banknorth, visit www.tdbanknorth.com.

The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A., which operates under the trade names TD Banknorth and TD Bank and is one of the 20 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation’s mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Banknorth and TD Bank operate, having made over $44.6 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The efforts of the Foundation are coordinated locally through TD Banknorth and TD Bank’s community relations departments and are focused on the areas of economic empowerment, youth development and community support. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation including an online grant application is available at www.TDBanknorth.com or at www.TDBank.com.